Children

I am thrilled that the start of baseball season is here. A devoted Dodger fan (torn by the recent sale of my beloved Dodgers, as I wish their corrupt owner Frank McCourt would walk away with nothing), I am always excited about a good Jackie Robinson picture book. Another great addition to illustrate to students how Jackie Robinson changed sports – and America – forever.

We lost a giant in literature this past month. Angelou’s beautiful voice is captured on each page of this terrific entry into children’s literature, with illustrations by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Trust me, Joose’s touching tale of a mother telling her two sons how important each one is to her complimented by Mary Whyte’s soothing watercolor illustrations is the perfect read aloud. Think Love You Forever by Robert Munsch meets When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant.

One of my favorite books of the year, as it follows the one-track mind of a dog determined to play ball one day. Your kids will love it (and you can secretly love it, too).

One of the most popular read alouds in any classroom or bedroom, Barrett’s delightful tale of the town of ChewandSwallow is sure to interest young children in a place where food literally falls from the sky. This should be in every home library.

This is the first in a series of wonderful, popular episodes in the life of a maid who takes her directions quite literally. It is kind of like Seinfeld for kids.

This is my four-year-old daughter’s current favorite book to read before bedtime (my wife and I always read at least five picture books before she and her brother go to sleep). A lovely story of a girl who finds different items in her school that remind her of her mother, and she constructs the items into a doll that she keeps in a pocket by her heart. A trick I use to keep my daughter interested in the story is by substituting her name (Kate) for the main character’s name (Eliza). Children tend to enjoy stories more when they read about characters with their names.

I cannot believe it took me this long to include this wonderful book on the list. When a witch gets a craving for some pigs, the barnyard pigs disguise themselves as other barnyard animals to hilarious effect. I think adults may laugh even more than children at this one. Great book!

Maybe it is because I am a father of two young children, but I think Sandra Boynton is just about one of my favorite authors in the world. Her books are always wonderfully illustrated and filled with funny rhymes and mischief. I’d recommend any books Boynton writes (my children especially love Dinos to Go).

The wonderful parable of a brave-hearted maiden who refuses to be married off to “some dimwit in a tin suit.” Kids will love this different take on the traditional fairy tale of a damsel in waiting.

I am a huge fan of Sandy Koufax (read Jane Leavey’s terrific biography on the Dodger icon). This book is such an easy sell with boys. Andre Carrilho’s illustrations add so much, as young readers are treated to seeing Koufax’s perfect pitching motion.

Jeanne Willis always makes me laugh, and Tony Ross always provides Willis with fabulous illustrations. Funny how everything looks different when you’re upside down.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I rate this and Larry McMurtry’s "Lonesome Dove" as the two greatest television adaptations of all time. Who would think I could draw a comparison between those two classics?

Looking for an interactive read aloud that is sure to delight young children? Go no further. Kids love participating in the sound effects of Fuge’s simple story with fun illustrations.

Jane Goodall is simply an amazing human being, and the brilliant author Jeanette Winter does a fine job of illustrating for children Goodall’s determination and bravery in studying wild chimpanzees and fighting for their protection and preservation.